A Contemporary Introduction to Sociology: Culture and Society in Transition Jeffrey C. Alexander and Kenneth Thompson This new textbook is about an extraordinary social transformation – the combustible leap from modern to postmodern life. […] Even though our theme is new, the book is organized in such a way as to fit in with conventional introductory courses. It is also easy to adapt to courses of different length or taught in a different order. The sequence of the chapters taken as a whole has a certain logic. The book begins by laying out some of the basic building blocks of sociology, in terms of key concepts and explanations of how the sociological perspective developed over time. […] Chapter 1 shows how sociology offers a particular way of thinking and speaking about social phenomena, telling social stories. […] Chapter 2 explains and demonstrates the basic methods used in sociological research and analysis. […] Chapter 3 discusses the various components of culture and how they affect our perception and performance in social situations. Chapter 4 examines the pervasive influence of media and communication. […] Chapter 5 examines the process of socialization at different periods in the life cycle. Chapter 6 is concerned with one of the most fundamental human activities, sexuality. In Chapter 7 we look at those social arrangements most closely associated with socialization and the regulation of sexuality, marriage and the family. The second half of the book provides comprehensive coverage of the various ways in which social life is structured and organized. […]